Jay Mariotti talks about the current Cubs-Cardinals rivalry.

But now Cardinals Nation understands the Cubs are real contenders, not that it has stopped those tricky St. Louisans from maintaining the razzing. Before the series opener, as the Cubs stretched, a song came over the speakers with this lyric: "When's the last time the Cubs won a pennant? Year after year after year after year after year." If that's rude, consider the scoreboard cap race that ridicules the Cubs by using only two caps, making it easy to determine which cap the ball is under. "I think the cap game is pretty amusing," Baker said. "What are they saying, that we're not very smart?" Then there was the Cardinals Gameday magazine, which features a cover story on an all-time Cub nightmare, the Lou Brock-Ernie Broglio trade.

Deep down, though St. Louis must respect the Cubs. For all the studs in the lineup -- Pujols, MVP candidate Scott Rolen, Edgar Renteria -- the Cubs have a more rounded club. Because they're highly competitive, thanks to Baker and general manager Jim Hendry, the rivalry is better than ever.

To the Cardinals the Cubs are the amusing little team from the north. The little kid that tags along and tries his best to hang in there but eventually fails to keep up.

The Cardinals will rub the Cub franchise on the top of the head and say, "Better luck next year kid." Only to walk off muttering under their breath, "Fat chance of that ever happening."

Now the Cubs are showing themselves to be as good if not better than the Cardinals and the amusing little insults look more like a desperate attempt to remind the Cubs of their history. Its the Cardinals whispering into the Cubs ear from behind saying, "Remember who you are. A loser. What makes you think you can compete with us? So why even try?"

It may of been cute then, but it is motivation to pound that smug smile off the Cardinals faces now. Go Cubs!